For only the second time in the last eight seasons, Sam Houston is off to a 3-0 start in the Southland Conference volleyball race.

The Bearkats defeated McNeese State 25-21 26-24 25-13 to run the league mark to 3-0 and even their season record to 6-6. Sam Houston has won five of its last seven matches.

“This team just keeps getting better every match,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “This one was a lot tougher than the score might indicate. This is a great group to coach. They're having fun.”

Junior outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson led both teams with 19 kills. She hit .385 with only four errors in 39 attempts.

Senior middle blocker Haley Neisler totaled 10 kills in 22 attempts. Freshman Shelby Genung was credited with eight kills while Carling Urben and Lauren Bohlen added seven and four kills, respectively.

Senior setter Tayler Gray assisted on 44 of Sam Houston's 51 kills. She also had 11 digs defensively. Libero Breanna Homer led the team with 12 digs.

Sam Houston is the defending Southland Conference champion. Last year the Kats started the season with a 3-7 record then roared back for 13 consecutive victories to jump to the top of the league standings.

The Bearkats' next action will be home matches against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday and Houston Baptist on Saturday.